The Real Story
The Gap into Conflict
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3.6 • 62 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Author of The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, one of the most acclaimed fantasy series of all time, master storyteller Stephen R. Donaldson retums with this exciting and long-awaited new series that takes us into a stunningly imagined future to tell a timeless story of adventure and the implacable conflict of good and evil within each of us.
Angus Thermopyle was an ore pirate and a murderer; even the most disreputable asteroid pilots of Delta Sector stayed locked out of his way. Those who didn't ended up in the lockup--or dead. But when Thermopyle arrived at Mallory's Bar & Sleep with a gorgeous woman by his side the regulars had to take notice. Her name was Morn Hyland, and she had been a police officer--until she met up with Thermopyle.
But one person in Mallorys Bar wasn't intimidated. Nick Succorso had his own reputation as a bold pirate and he had a sleek frigate fitted for deep space. Everyone knew that Thermopyle and Succorso were on a collision course. What nobody expected was how quickly it would be over--or how devastating victory would be. It was common enough example of rivalry and revenge--or so everyone thought. The REAL story was something entirely different.
In The Real Story, Stephen R. Donaldson takes us to a remarkably detailed world of faster-than-light travel, politics, betrayal, and a shadowy presence just outside our view to tell the fiercest, most profound story he has ever written.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Donaldson ( The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant ) launches his new five-book series with a short futurist novel of almost no substance. The plot is presented in its entirety in the first chapter: Robin Hoodish space pirate Nick Succorso cleverly steals the beautiful female prisoner Morn Hyland from the brute space pirate Angus Thermopyle, and has him thrown in jail. The rest of the book retells the same story in more detail. But it is mightily dull detail--Donaldson imparts neither warmth or humanity to his characters; it is all but impossible to care what befalls them. Information about their backgrounds serves as mere padding; their pasts rarely bear a relationship to their current actions, which often seem rash or out-of-character. Nor does the author delve far into the technology or culture of the society in which faster-than-light travel afflicts some with irreparable brain damage. A Zone Implant can turn such a person into a zombie, to protect his shipmates, but is otherwise illegal. From high technicalities to simple human truths, Donaldson has much to develop in sequels.
Customer Reviews
Interesting
After reading the rest of the series, I believe this book is the weakest among them. It is, however, interesting enough to have caught my attention, and the story only gets stronger from here. I would consider this a sub-par introduction to an above average series. The graphic nature of this particular episode of the story, while possibly necessary to invoke the feelings of frustration that propelled me into and through the rest of the narrative, is something to take into account before committing to a read through.
Best intro to a saga
Stephen Donaldson stands alone as the best sci-fi writer.
I live in Battle Creek, MI, and you cannot imagine the shock, surprise, delight I experienced when I learned it was his sister who was my baby doctor!!
Before I knew who she was, I told her that I would be naming my child, if a son, Geraden, (the protagonist from "The Mirror of Her Dreams"), because it was my favorite book of all time. Or Morn, (the protagonist from "The Real Story" if a girl). My child is named Geraden, and he is 19 today!!
Stephen Donaldson owns my heart. His books are provoking and beyond the average person's intelligence. Not that I am a genius, but my IQ is high enough to delve into his writings and become one with his characters.
God, I should change my name to Morn,
Read his books, on par with Tolkien, Asimov, and Varley.
If you are a sci-fi geek, and have not found his writings, salvation comes today. Buy the whole "Gap" series. Star Wars is beyond pale compared to this series.